Breech-loading fire-arm



(No Model.)

I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. H. BRIGGS.

BREBGH LOADING FIRE ARM.

No. 327,860. Patented Oct. 6, 1885 n. PETERS. Hum-Lawn Wnhmflon. 1m;

2 Sheets-8heet 2.

(No Model.)

H. BRIGGS.

BREBOH LOADING FIRE ARM.

Patented Oct. 6 1885 HENRY BRIGGS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARM.

SPECIFICATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 327,860, dated October6, 1885.

Application filed June 11, 1885. Serial No. 168,374. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY BRIGGS, a citizen of the United States,residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certainImprovements in Fire-Arms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of certain improvements in the construction ofbreech-loading fire-arms, as fully described and claimed hereinafter. Va

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of afire-arm embodying my invention, with the breech closed and the hammerdown. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the breech-block and hammer drawnback, the breech-block being shown in outside View. Fig. 3 is a detachedperspective view of the sliding breech-block and a portion of itsoperating-lever. Fig. at is a transverse section on the line 1 2, Fig.1; and Fig. 5 is a detached view "of the end of the barrel with theshellextracting devices.

A is the barrel of the firearm, carried by the frame B, which isattached to the usual stock D.

To an opening through the frame B is adapted a vertically-slidingbreech-block, E, which carries the firing-pin e, adapted to be thrownforward by the blow of the hammer and returned by a suitable spring, 6.This sliding breech-block is controlled in its movements bylthe lever F,hinged at f to the frame, and which is shaped to form at the same time aguard for the trigger.

Instead of making the connection between this operating-lever and thesliding breechbloek through the medium of a link, as is commonly done, Iform in the lower part of the breech-block a T- headed slot, E, Fig. 3,.

to which is adapted a T-head, F, on the lever F, the slot E being ofsuch a depth, Fig. 1, as to allow of the proper movement of the T-head Fin swinging on its pivot f. If desired, the T-h'ead may be on the blockand the slot in the lever; but in any case the slot should be open atthe edge, in order to permit of the ready detachment of the parts forcleaning or repairs.

H is the hammer, which is pivotedat h to the frame, and is acted on by aspring, G,

which I prefer to form of untempered round wire, having a coil or turnwith two arms, one arm, acting on the hammer H, and the other secured atg to the bottom of the frame B. That arm of the spring which is securedto the frame is extended beyond its point of fastening g and bent up toact on the short arm of the trigger J, which is adapted to engage withthe usual notches on the short arm of the hammer H.

It will be observed, on reference to Fig. 1, that the arm 9 of thespring which acts upon the hammer is adapted to a slot in the end of thelatter, while a stop, b, is formed on the upper part of the frame B forthe arm 9' of the spring, the relation of this stop I) to the I hammeror the slot therein being such that the arm 9 of the spring will stopbefore the hammer H reaches the end of its movement, and, consequently,while the hammer will be thrown forward by the spring with sufiicientforce against the firing-pin to fire the cartridge the hammer will beallowed to rebound back from the firing-pin and permit the latter toreturn to its normal position.

I prefer to form on the lower arm of the hammer, in addition to theusual notches, a supplementary notch, h, which I term a rebound notch,and with which thenose of the trigger will engage when the hammerrebounds, to hold the latter back from the firingpin, as shown in Fig.1.

In orderto make the gun selfcocking I form on the hammer H, on one sidethereof, a projection or pin, a, Fig. 2, and on the sliding breech-blockI secure a projecting arm, I, Figs. 2 and 3, which, as the breech-bloekEis pulled down or descends, will engage with or strike against the pin43 on the hammer and draw the latter down to the cocked position shownin Fig. 2. This arm I may be secured to the breech-block in any suitablemanner; but I prefer to secure it by providing on the enlarged end ofthe arm a dovetail inserted from below into a dovetailed recess in'theblock I and secured by a screw, 6, as shown in Fig. 3.

rel and having its short arm projecting to the edge of thebore below therim of the cartridge. This extractor is acted on byasprin glgwhich tendsto keep it in the closed position illustrated in Figs. land 2. Thisextractor is provided with a projection, k, adapted to be acted on by ayielding nose, Z, of the lever L, pivoted to the frame and having itsshort arm adapted to be acted on by thesliding breech-block. 1n thepresent instance theshort arm of this lever L projects into arecess,m,in the sliding breechblock, the opposite ends of this recess,Fig. 1, forming projections to act on the lever to move it from theposition shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2, and return it to itsnormal position, Fig. 1.

The yielding nosel of the lever L consists in the present instance of apivoted arm, which is acted on by a spring, Z, Fig. 5, tending to throwthe arm outward to keep it in engage ment with the projection is on thesliding extractor.

On a cross-piece of the frame is formed a beveled projection, 19, Figs.1 and 2, for a purpose which I will now explain.

lVhen the parts are in the closed position shown in Fig. 1, the yieldingnose Z of the lever L engages with the projection 75, so that when thebreech-block is pulled down and the upper end of the slot m engages withthe short arm of the lever Lthe yielding noseZwill push the slidingextractor K outward,as illustrated in Fig. 5, to eject the empty shellfrom the firearm; but as soon as the nose Z of the lever L comes intocontact with the beveled projection 19 the said nose will be thrown outof engagement with the projection of the extractor K, and the latter,under the action of the spring is, will immediately return to its closedp0sition.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination of the frame of a firearm andthe sliding breech-block: adapted thereto with an operating-leverconnected to the breech-block and pivoted to theframe, the said lever orblock having a T-headed slot open at the end, and the other having a T-head adapted to the slot, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the frame of a firearm and the hammer having aslot at its rear with a spring secured to the frame, and having one end,adapted to the slot in the hammer, and a stop on the frame to limit themovement of the spring, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the barrel of a firearm and an extractor carriedby the barrel with a sliding breech-block, a lever toimpart an outwardmovement to the extractor and acted on by the sliding breech-block,devices, substantially as described, to disengage the lever from theextractor at the end of its outward movement, and a spring to return theextractor to its closed position.

4. The combination of the barrel of a firearm having an extractor, K,and a returnspring therefor, witha lever, L, pivoted to the frame andhaving a yielding nose to act on the extractor, but adapted to bereleased therefrom at the end of its outward movement, substantially asset forth.

5. The combination of the barrel of a firearm having an extractor, K,and a returnspring therefor,with a lever, L, pivoted to the frame andhaving a yielding nose to act on' the extractor, and a beveledprojection, 10, to re lease the yielding nose from the extractor at theend of the outward movement of thelatter, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY BRIGGS.

WVitnesses:

JOHN E. PARKER, HENRY HowsoN.

